| Dental device for the investigation of the optical properties of tooth tissue -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Dental device for the investigation of the optical properties of tooth tissueRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Means To Emit Radiation Or Facilitate Viewing Of The WorkDental device for the investigation of the optical properties of tooth tissue description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050255424, Dental device for the investigation of the optical properties of tooth tissue. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates to a dental device for the investigation of the optical properties of tooth tissue. In particular the present invention relates to a device for the detection of fluorescent substances on teeth, for example of caries, plaque, bacterial infection, concretions or tartar. [0003] 2. Related Technology [0004] In dental diagnostics, optical investigation devices, with the aid of which for example caries, plaque, bacterial infection, concretions or tartar can be recognized, have long been known and known in different variants. It is common to all known devices that a tooth tissue region to be investigated is first irradiated with an excitation radiation, in response to which a response radiation is issued from the tooth. This response radiation may contain both the return reflected radiation of the same wavelength and also a fluorescence radiation. The response radiation is in turn detected and delivered to an evaluation unit which on the basis of the spectrum of the response radiation determines whether one of the above-mentioned substances is present or not. The known optical diagnostic methods and devices differ thereby in the employed wavelength(s) for the excitation radiation and in the evaluation of the detected response radiation. A first possibility consists in investigating whether there has arisen at the tooth a fluorescence radiation as reaction to the excitation radiation. Another possibility consists in, in the case of so-called reflection spectrometry, investigating which wavelengths are reflected in what manner from the tooth surface. [0005] Devices of this kind are described for example in DE 297 04 185 U1, DE 197 09 500 C1 or DE 100 13 210 A1. These known devices have a dental handpiece with an investigation probe, via which the excitation radiation is directed to the tooth to be investigated and the response radiation radiated back from the tooth is detected. The light source for generating the excitation radiation is thereby often arranged directly in the handpiece, whilst in contrast the evaluation of the response radiation is mostly effected in a console, which is connected with a handpiece via connection tube. This console has on the one hand the electronics for the control of the light source for the excitation radiation and also for the evaluation of the response radiation. Beyond this, there are provided at the console indicator means of the form of a display, which depict the measurement results and thereby provides information as to whether the region just investigated manifests one of the above-mentioned fluorescent substances or not. The final diagnosis, i.e. the determination whether the increased fluorescence is caused by caries or not, is then made by the dentist. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0006] The invention is based on an intended object of further improving the handling of dental optical investigation devices thus far known. Here it is to be taken into account that for a user of the apparatus the possibility should exist of also being able to investigate regions within the mouth of a patient that are difficult to access. Further, the possibility of a simple cleaning should be provided, since in particular those parts which enter into the mouth of a patient must also be sterilized. [0007] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the dental investigation device is configured so that it is constituted by means of a hand apparatus, which in principle can be used completely independently of other equipment and comprises all elements significant and necessary for carrying out the optical diagnosis procedure. Thus, the device in accordance with the invention has an excitation radiation generator, which radiator is to be directed onto a tooth tissue to be investigated, a radiation detector and a radiation evaluator for detecting and evaluating a response radiation sent back from the irradiated tooth tissue region as response to the irradiation, and an indicator for indicating a measurement result determined by the radiation evaluator on the basis of the detected response radiation, wherein the excitation radiation generator, the radiation detector and at least also the indicator are arranged in or on a handpiece. The indicator for representing the measurement result may thereby both be of optical and also acoustic nature, and provide the user of the apparatus directly with the current measurement result. Preferably, also the radiation evaluation is integrated in the handpiece. [0008] Through the configuration of the optical investigation device as an autonomous working handpiece, the user of the device is no longer restricted in his range of movement. The handling of the device is thus, in comparison with the known devices, in which the handpiece is connected via a supply tube with a console, significantly improved. [0009] In accordance with an advantageous development of this inventive concept, it can be provided that the measurement results provided by the investigation device are transmitted in a wireless manner to an external depiction and/or evaluation unit, to be supplemented or further processed. This external unit may be, for example, a PC within a dental practice, in which the measurement results obtained during the investigation are automatically stored and associated with the appropriate patient. Further, this external unit may be employed for additional depiction of the measurement result--for example on the basis of a tooth schematic. The transmission of the signals may thereby take place in the form of electromagnetic signals, by means of ultrasound or other known wireless transmission techniques. [0010] A second aspect of the invention is concerned with the problems of cleaning or sterilization of the investigation device. As has already been mentioned above, simple cleaning should be possible since high hygiene requirements arise in dental practices. Since at least the forward part of the investigation device enters into the mouth of the patient in particular there should be the possibility of sterilizing this region. [0011] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention it is thus proposed to provide the handpiece, in which the elements of the optical investigation device are arranged, at least in its forward region, with a sleeve which is removable and is of sterilizable material. Since with this solution, solely the sleeve and the investigation probe needed for transmission of the excitation and response radiation comes into contact with the patient, after an investigation the probe and the sleeve can be removed from the handpiece and separately sterilized, whereby in particular the electronic components of the device necessary for control of the light source and evaluation of the response radiation remain in the region of the handpiece which is not to be cleaned and thereby are not affected. [0012] In accordance with an advantageous development of this second concept in accordance with the invention, the sleeve may have parts of a switching element for activation of the device or the means for the generation of the excitation radiation. In particular, the switching element may be a ring switch which has an electrical line running in the interior of the handpiece which in the region of the ring switch is interrupted. The removable sleeve has in the region of the interruption an actuable element having a bridging element of a conductive material, via which the line can be closed and therewith the handpiece and the means for generation of the excitation radiation activated. Preferably, the actuable element is a switch cap of a flexible material. [0013] The removable sleeve is preferably able to be put in place on the handpiece from the forward side, whereby in particular it can be provided that the sleeve can only be pushed on or removed if the diagnosis probe provided for the transmission of the excitation and response radiation is removed from the handpiece. This probe also is preferably releasably attached at the forward handpiece end, in particular latched, and may be rotatably mounted. Thereby it can further be provided that differently configured diagnosis probes are available, which in each case couple in and couple out the light of the excitation and response radiation in a particular manner corresponding to the region which is presently to be investigated. Through this the possibility is opened up of employing the investigation device in accordance with the invention e.g. both for the investigation of chewing surfaces and also for the investigation of tooth gum pockets and tooth intermediate spaces. [0014] A third aspect of the invention concerns itself with the problem of configuring the elements necessary for detecting the response radiation sent back from the tooth surface as compactly as possible, so that these can be integrated in the handpiece is a space saving manner. [0015] Thereby, in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, the invention provides a photodiode for the detection of the response radiation within a small housing which is emplaced in the handpiece. The transmission of the response radiation to the photodiode is thereby effected by means of a light conductor, at the one end of which the photodiode is arranged. In order to make possible an optimal coupling in of the light transmitted by the light conductor into the photodiode, the housing may thereby have an opening in which the light conductor opens, whereby on the housing in particular a snap fastening for attachment of the light conductor may be arranged. Preferably, there is provided within the housing also a filter arranged between the light conductor end and the photodiode, which only allows through the wavelengths necessary for the evaluation of the response radiation. This compact arrangement makes possible a very effective evaluation of the response radiation arising in response to the irradiation with the excitation radiation, whereby at the same time wide ranging miniturization is attained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] Other developments and advantageous configurations of the device in accordance with the invention. They will be described in more detail in connection with the description of several exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. There is shown: [0017] FIG. 1 a dental optical investigation device in accordance with the invention, in the form of a handpiece; [0018] FIG. 2a the configuration and arrangement of the main components for optical diagnosis of caries; [0019] FIGS. 2b and 2c representations of FIG. 2a to an enlarged scale; [0020] FIG. 3 a representation to an enlarged scale of a first exemplary embodiment of a diagnosis probe for the transmission of the excitation and response radiation; [0021] FIG. 4 a second variant of a diagnosis probe, in section; Continue reading about Dental device for the investigation of the optical properties of tooth tissue... 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